<div>by Dharmendra Rataul
With the date set for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) election, the political scene in the state has started heating up. The race has begun to wrest control of the SGPC - considered the mini-Parliament of the Sikhs. The SGPC elections also assume significance this time as these will set the tone for the assembly elections in Punjab scheduled for February 2011.
Hectic parleys have already begun to forge an alliance to take on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). If the political pundits are to be believed, most of the anti-Badal Akali factions are trying to form a unified force, even though till now they have been at war with each other.
There are several moderates as well as radical groups and most of these are led by major Sikh personalities. All eyes currently set on the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), headed by Paramjit Singh Sarna, which controls the cash-rich Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Sarna is a known Badal basher and has announced to to contest the SGPC polls. However, he is yet to open his cards as far as selecting partners for polls are concerned.
At present, the SAD (B) controls the 170 member general house of the SGPC, with support of more than 150 members. The party is all set to go alone in the elections while Sarna, sources said, is in talks with moderate Akali factions including the SAD (1920) headed by Ravi Inder Singh, All India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) headed by Jaswant Singh Mann, SAD (Longowal) and SAD (Panj Pardhani), apart from some support from certain radical Sikh bodies including the Dal Khalsa and the Khalsa Action Committee.
At least one major Akali faction, the SAD (Amritsar), headed by Simranjit Singh Mann, may not be able to forge an alliance with the other factions as the party is known for its ultra-radical ideology and personal grudge its leader holds against Sarna. Mann may end up contesting the SGPC polls alone.
Meanwhile, Sarna confirmed that he has held the first round of talks with certain groups. A second round of talks would be held to form a big force against Badals. However, he clarified that he would not join hands with the separatist Sikh leaders.
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With the date set for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) election, the political scene in the state has started heating up. The race has begun to wrest control of the SGPC - considered the mini-Parliament of the Sikhs. The SGPC elections also assume significance this time as these will set the tone for the assembly elections in Punjab scheduled for February 2011.
Hectic parleys have already begun to forge an alliance to take on the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). If the political pundits are to be believed, most of the anti-Badal Akali factions are trying to form a unified force, even though till now they have been at war with each other.
There are several moderates as well as radical groups and most of these are led by major Sikh personalities. All eyes currently set on the Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), headed by Paramjit Singh Sarna, which controls the cash-rich Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Sarna is a known Badal basher and has announced to to contest the SGPC polls. However, he is yet to open his cards as far as selecting partners for polls are concerned.
At present, the SAD (B) controls the 170 member general house of the SGPC, with support of more than 150 members. The party is all set to go alone in the elections while Sarna, sources said, is in talks with moderate Akali factions including the SAD (1920) headed by Ravi Inder Singh, All India Shiromani Akali Dal (AISAD) headed by Jaswant Singh Mann, SAD (Longowal) and SAD (Panj Pardhani), apart from some support from certain radical Sikh bodies including the Dal Khalsa and the Khalsa Action Committee.
At least one major Akali faction, the SAD (Amritsar), headed by Simranjit Singh Mann, may not be able to forge an alliance with the other factions as the party is known for its ultra-radical ideology and personal grudge its leader holds against Sarna. Mann may end up contesting the SGPC polls alone.
Meanwhile, Sarna confirmed that he has held the first round of talks with certain groups. A second round of talks would be held to form a big force against Badals. However, he clarified that he would not join hands with the separatist Sikh leaders.
More...